Devon's famous Trago Mills store has opened more departments but there are some changes to look out for.

The Build Centre opened first, closely followed by the Garden Park in May 2020. But now more areas have opened as the lockdown eases.

Changes in the garden centre have included doubling the width of the aisles from 1.5m to 3m and installing hand sanitiser stations, trolley and basket disinfectant, safety screens and a total redesign of the floor space.

Chairman Bruce Robertson said in a notice on the Trago website that it is gradually starting phased re-openings throughout the stores.

Chairman of Trago Mills Bruce Robertson

Only two family members are allowed to shop at any one time but one person from the same household can now be under 16 years old.

In Newton Abbot, the ground floor at the front of the main store is now open for household essentials, DIY, decorating, home furnishings and bedding. Reduced opening hours will apply 9am-4.30pm every day except Sundays when they will be 10am-4pm.

Also in Newton Abbot, Liskeard and Merthyr Tydfil, Homeware Departments including Soft Furnishings, Cut Materials, Haberdashery, Housewares, Small Electrical, White Goods, Lighting have re-opened along with the Motorbikes and Scooters Department (Trago2Wheels).

Customers can now book a Personal Appointment of up to 45 minutes in the carpet department. In Falmouth and Liskeard, the store is now open for household essentials, pets, DIY, paints, gardens, BBQs and mowers. The Fuel Station in Newton Abbot remains open on reduced hours 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

A spokesman for Bruce Robertson, the owner and chairman of Trago Mills said: "The Garden Centre at Trago in Newton Abbot is the biggest garden centre in Devon covering almost three acres, and this vast space has proved very useful for the team creating safe shopping on the site ahead of re-opening this Saturday.

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"The large outdoor area is ideal for social distancing with lots of wide walkways and spacious areas for product selection. However, the interior of the garden centre has been a tougher proposition all together for the safety team.

"They have installed social distancing floor signs and markings throughout the store along with hand sanitisation stations plus trolley and basket disinfectant.

£Safety screens have been purpose built and installed to all tills but the biggest job has been the total redesign of the floor space with aisles widened from 1.5m to in places 3m to ensure that safe customer flow and social distancing can always be achieved.

"The team at the Newton Abbot store are confident that all safety, social distancing and sanitisation measures are ready for the big day but respectfully reminds customers to stay alert and mindful of staff and other customers at all times."